382] PI NT fine our attention to the treatment which ought to be adopted, in case any |)ins should he inadvertently swallowed. Such accidents some- times li ippen, to persons who im- prudently accustom themselves to hold these dangerous utensils in their mouth, and even frequently re- tire to bed without removing them ; an injudicious praftice, that cannot be too severely reprimanded ; for a sudden tit of coughing, or numerous other causes, may easily force the pin down the gullet. As soon, therefore, as it can be ascertained that this pointed su'o- stance has been swallowed, it will be advisable to take considerable draughts of vinegar and oil of al- monds; or, if the latter cannot be readily procured, any other sweet or .salad oil may be substituted. Tar- tarized antimony, or tartar emetic, has, likewise, proveda very etFettual remedy in such distressing situa- tions : it ought to be given in doses of four or five grains, dissolved in warm water, which should be fol- lowed by the whites of six raw eggs, if the patient be an adult. These ■will coagulate in the stomach ; ex- cite vomiting; and thus occasion the ascending of the pin, together with the sheathing matter. — See also Gullet. PINCHBECK, a faaitions me- tal, the colour of which resembles that of gold ; and which has re- ceived this appellation from its in- ventor. — It is produced by melt- ing one part of zinc with five or six parts of copper ; and it becomes more or less malleable, according to the purity of diose metals. Some metallurgists, however, direft equal parts to be melted together ; but Dr. Lewis observes, from hisov.n experiments, that pinchbeck bears a greater resemblance togold^ by P JN employing zinc either in the-largest or in the smallest proportion, than by using similar quantities of each ingredient. Pinchbeck is manufa6tured prin- cipally into cases and chains for watches. PI iVE- APPLE, the CoMMotf, or Bromdia ananas, L. is a native of Mexico and the Brazils, whence it has been introduced into Europe. It is propagated in Britain, by plant- ing either the crowns or excre- scences growing on the fruit, or the Sliders produced from the sides of the plant (after they have been exposed in a warm place to dry fov three or four days), in pots of light fresh mould, mixed with rotten dung ; which has been pre- pared six or eight months, in order that its parts may be more com- pletely united. They are nov/ to be plunged in a hot-bed ; and, if the seasi)n be warm, it will be advis- able to water the plants, at least, twice in the week; though, iu cool weather, one irrigation will be sufficient. A praiStice prevails among some gardeners, of removing pine-ap- ples to various pots : thus, how— ever, the growth of the fruit is ma- terially retarded ; as the plants re- quire lo be placed in fresh pots only twice in one season, namely ; first, towards the end of April in the se- cond year, when the crowns and suckers of the preceding year must be transplanted into pots of a larger size; and, secondly, in the begin- ning of August ; when such as are of a proper age for bearing fruit, ought to be rem.oved into pots pro})ortioned to their grow'h. With every chai;ge, the hot-bed should be stirred up, and fiesh bark added, so as to raise it to the height at vhi«h it was orighially formed ;
